Davidson County is located in Tennessee, and it is home to the state capital, the City of Nashville, which also serves as the county seat. Over 700,000 individuals reside in the county. Nashville and Davidson County operate under a consolidated government known as the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.

Courts in Davidson County

Davidson County's judicial system has several trial-level courts that handle legal matters arising in the county. The Davidson County Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction that handles major civil cases and serious criminal offenses. Cases brought before this court include contract breaches, torts, worker’s compensation claims, domestic matters, felonies, and misdemeanors.

The Probate Division of the Circuit Court has exclusive jurisdiction in Davidson County over cases involving the administration of deceased persons’ estates, wills, conservatorships and guardianships, name changes, emancipations, and trusts.

The General Sessions Court handles both criminal matters and civil lawsuits.  It handles misdemeanors, preliminary hearings for felonies, and traffic violations. Other cases it hears include landlord/tenant disputes, orders of protection, mental health commitments, environmental code violations, and civil actions where the dispute amount does not exceed $25,000.

The Chancery Court in Davidson County hears lawsuits about contracts, employment, construction, real estate, and commercial disputes. It also handles insurance matters, tax disputes, workers' compensation, and local government issues. In addition, appeals from government agencies in the county are brought before the Chancery Court.

Criminal cases in Davidson County are also brought before the Criminal Court. It handles criminal proceedings for felony and misdemeanor charges, including serious crimes such as robbery, assault, and homicide.

The Davidson County Juvenile Court addresses cases concerning minors, including child custody, juvenile delinquency, and child protection. The court also offers rehabilitation and treatment programs as alternatives for minors who are involved in delinquency cases.

Municipal Courts in the county hear cases involving violations of municipal/city ordinances.  Usually, these courts hear speeding tickets and other traffic violations. However, these courts also hear other municipal code violations, such as animal complaints, noise complaints, and overgrown properties.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Davidson County

The Davidson County Circuit Court Clerk serves as the custodian of court records. The Clerk's Office keeps records of all traffic, civil, and criminal cases filed and heard in the county. Likewise, each court in the county has designated clerks who maintain records generated at their respective courts. Interested persons can find public court records in Davidson County online or request them at the Clerk’s office. Copies of court records can be requested via mail or in person at the Clerk’s office.

Types of Public Court Records in Davidson County

In Davidson County, the following types of court records are generally available to the public:

• Criminal Court Records
• Civil Court Records
• Probate Court Records
• Small Claims Court Records
• Family Court Records

Confidential Court Records in Davidson County

Per Tennesssee laws, some court records in Davidson County are not available to the general public due to the sensitive information they contain or for privacy protection. The courts may also seal records upon request. Confidential court records in Davidson County are only available to individuals authorized by court orders or involved parties. Examples of confidential court records and information include:

• Medical records
• Personal identifying information
• Juvenile records
• Information  that identifies victims of sex offenses
• Adoption records

Juvenile Delinquency in Davidson, TN

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Davidson County, juvenile delinquency crimes are on the rise. There are many reasons for the increase in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Tennessee often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of offenses, and other family matters.

In 2016, a total of 1294 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Davidson County. Of that total, 46% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 600 court cases. Another 54% were dependency cases that accounted for 693 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Davidson County, are focusing on family health and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Davidson County juvenile delinquency statistics will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Davidson County, TN

https://www.tn.gov/

County Seat:	Nashville
Government Type:	City-County Consolidation
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1783
Total Square Miles:	526
2019 Population:	691,243
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Davidson County, TN Courts